Why can't I get a spark?

Tiny
MUTCHLER65
  • MEMBER
  • 1992 HONDA CIVIC
  • 64,000 MILES
I just bought this civic and it has been parked for about 3 years, when it was parked it ran fine, now I can't get a spark out of the ignition. I have replaced the distributor and continutity checks out all through the engine. This leads me to think its something to do with the computer system, a relay or ground wire, but which module and where do I start checking?
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 AT 8:53 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check and test the coil-
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Thursday, February 9th, 2012 AT 9:01 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Start by ensuring there is battery voltage at the distributor Black/Yellow wire with ignition On and while cranking.

Ensure the timing belt has not stripped and distributor rotor is turning while craking.

At the thermostat housing, ensure the grounding wires are securely tightened.

After turning on ignition switch, does the MIL goes off after 2 second?
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Thursday, February 9th, 2012 AT 9:03 PM
Tiny
MUTCHLER65
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
It has voltage thru the coil when turned on. I need to check to make sure the rotor is turning but im almost certian when we were working on it last night it was. What is the MIL I should be looking at when I turn the key on?
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Thursday, February 9th, 2012 AT 9:14 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
MIL is the ( malfunction indicator light ) same as check engine light-
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Thursday, February 9th, 2012 AT 9:18 PM
Tiny
MUTCHLER65
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
The check engine light stays on and all the ground wires are good.
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Thursday, February 9th, 2012 AT 9:33 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Scan the computer for code/s
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Thursday, February 9th, 2012 AT 9:40 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
If the MIL stays on and does not go off, you either have a bad compter, PGM-FI main relay or a bad ground circuit at the thermostat housing.
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Thursday, February 9th, 2012 AT 10:09 PM
Tiny
MUTCHLER65
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I want to pull the codes off the ecm, I have found the green rubber thing now which set of wires do I jump. There is a connector with only two ports and there is another with 3 ports but only two wires connected to it. Which one is the right one for reading codes?
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Friday, February 10th, 2012 AT 9:17 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
The 2 port connector is the one to bridge.
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Saturday, February 11th, 2012 AT 5:48 AM
Tiny
MUTCHLER65
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I found out that the acg (s) fuse was blown 15A. What does this fuse control and where should I look to try to find the reason for blowning it?
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Saturday, February 11th, 2012 AT 11:20 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
The fuse is for the ECM and PRG-FI main relay. Replace the fuse and retest if it blows.
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Sunday, February 12th, 2012 AT 6:11 AM

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